Ohio Individual Health Insurance for Students

The health insurance coverage that universities and colleges offer students may not be comprehensive and students could even end up paying more for limited benefits.  To bridge this gap, health insurance companies offer affordable Ohio individual health insurance for students. If you have just graduated from high school and are looking to join a university or college, your best option would be to discuss your health plan options with an informed insurance broker.

Health Insurance Options for Students

However healthy you are, going without insurance is unwise. So don’t lose time in checking out the options that are available to you and choosing the right one.

•      Stay on your parents’ plan: Federal healthcare reform allows that children are allowed to remain on their parents’ insurance plan until age 26, regardless of whether they are in school or not. However, note that some medical insurance plans would not cover you if you are enrolled in an educational institution outside your state.

•      Enroll in your school’s plan: Most colleges and universities tie up with health insurance providers to offer student limited health plans. One important point to note about such plans is that they would cover you only as long as you are on the campus. For instance, if you are on holiday and meet with an accident, your school-sponsored plan probably will not offer coverage.

•      Purchase private individual health insurance: To overcome the issues you would face by staying on your parents’ or school’s health insurance plan, you could purchase an individual health plan from a leading health insurance company. A private health insurance broker can provide valuable advice on purchasing comprehensive and affordable coverage.

Purchasing Private Individual Health Insurance – Student Benefits

When you buy a private health insurance plan to cover your needs, you stand to gain in the following ways:

•      You are covered wherever you go. This overcomes the limited coverage issues posed by staying on your parents’ plan or enrolling in your school’s plan

•      You get round-the-year coverage, not just during the school year.

•      You get an affordable and all-inclusive plan. Your school health plan may be expensive and yet not cover many of the services you may need. Private health insurance companies offer individual health insurance plans for students that offer you comprehensive coverage, including prescriptions.

•      Regardless of whether you stay on the campus, go to school part-time or half way through the year, you would be covered in private health insurance plan bought in consultation with a professional agency.

•      Coverage starts immediately with a private Ohio student health insurance plan

Make the Right Decision

With all these options to choose from, you need to make the right decision. Contacting a reliable independent health insurance broker can help. You get professional assistance to check out, compare the various Ohio individual health insurance plans for students and purchase an affordable plan.

How to Choose the Right Ohio Individual Health Insurance Plan

Health insurance companies in Ohio offer several types of health plans. If you are employed, choosing a plan would not be complicated as most employers offer only one or two health insurance options. However, if you are shopping for coverage on your own, you would be faced with the question of how to choose the right Ohio individual health insurance plan from the multitude of choices available in the market.

Individual Health Insurance Coverage in Ohio – Choosing Right

If you are thinking of opting out of employer-sponsored health insurance, review your options thoroughly before you take a decision. Compare at least three or four plans before you buy. Considering the following points can help you make the right choice:

•    Anticipate your medical needs: Though you cannot predict a sudden illness or injury, there are some essentials you need to consider. For instance, choose a plan with maternity coverage if you plan on starting a family.

•    Consider cost of the basics: Do not go for a plan with a high monthly premium if your budget is limited. A policy with a high deductible (the amount that you have to pay before your health insurance takes over) would make more sense if you are in good health. You should also consider your copays (what you spend on an office visit or test) and your coinsurance (your share of health care expenses) when you buy a policy.

•    Do not choose a plan without an annual cap: Avoid plans that have no limit on your annual out-of-pocket costs which are unexpected (for example, office visits, prescriptions, trips to emergency rooms, and so on). A plan with yearly caps on what you pay for health care is the right choice. With health reform, annual dollar limits on coverage will cease by 2014.

•    Healthcare provider participation: Make sure that your primary care physician (PCP) and the specialists you consult are in the network of your plan. Most Ohio individual health insurance plans require you to pay most of the cost when you choose an out-of-network doctor, or don’t offer coverage at all.

•    Vision and dental care: Choosing a plan which offers options to add on individual dental insurance Ohio and vision coverage would be an advantage.

•    Coverage for prescriptions: Check out the plan’s medication coverage list to ensure that prescribed drugs are covered.

Professional Advice on Ohio Individual Health Insurance

The ideal option when it comes to choosing the right Ohio individual health insurance plan is to talk to an experienced health insurance agent. An established company would offer professional guidance to get health insurance quotes from various providers, compare individual health insurance plans in Ohio and select a suitable one.